On February 21, 2026, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray was involved in a pit road incident during the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway. While Gray was making a scheduled tire change on his #54 Toyota, a wheel came loose, prompting crew member Alex Morgan to attempt to retrieve it and prevent a potential hazard on pit road. As Morgan grabbed the wheel and moved back, Gray’s car was released prematurely, striking Morgan in the process. Fortunately, the crew member escaped without serious injury.
A broadcast clip captured the moment Morgan was rolled off the hood of Gray’s Chevy, illustrating the unexpected nature of the collision. Reflecting on the event, Morgan said,
“Oh, I’m fine. I’m fine. I signed up for it, so I was just trying to get it back, but I guess I gotta deal with it. Not like that, not on the exit of pit road, but on the entry. I’ve had a couple clips, but nothing like that before. But I’m just glad the car is okay.”
?Alex Morgan, Crew Member
NASCAR Response and Race Outcome for Taylor Gray
Following the pit road collision, NASCAR issued a penalty to Taylor Gray for a safety violation and sent him to the rear of the field. Despite the setback, Gray demonstrated strong performance throughout the 163-lap race and finished in ninth place, securing a top-ten result. He ended the race one position ahead of fellow Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brandon Jones, who finished tenth. The incident did not prevent Gray from showcasing competitive pace on the EchoPark Speedway track.
Background on Taylor Gray’s Career with Joe Gibbs Racing
In October 2024, Taylor Gray, a New Mexico native and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver, shared insights into his tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing. Initially, Gray was slated to drive the #19 Toyota in his second season, but the team revived the #54 Toyota for the 2025 season and named Gray its full-time driver. His promising run in the #19 car during 2024 helped secure this opportunity.
Describing discussions about his future with the team, Gray recounted,
“Actually, it’s a funny story. It was Talladega after the Xfinity race. I went over to his place before the planes left. You know, JGR has cars in the playoffs, so they have to roll through tech and takes a while and everything. So I walked over there, and I was talking to him.”
?Taylor Gray, Driver
He also explained the decision about his car number:
“We were kind of talking about next year a little bit. And he was asking me about number stuff and what number I was supposed to be. And originally, I was supposed to be the 19. Like that was what I was going to do with the 19. And he looks at me and goes, ‘No,’ he said, ‘you’re going to run the 54.’ And so they, they drug the 54 kind of out of retirement. I like to say. And yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
?Taylor Gray, Driver
Taylor Gray’s Racing Achievements and Current Season
Currently in his third season competing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Taylor Gray has established a noteworthy record. Over 48 starts, he has achieved one victory at Martinsville Speedway, alongside 19 top-ten finishes and three pole positions. His steady progression within Joe Gibbs Racing highlights his development as a rising talent in stock car racing.
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— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 21, 2026
